Strong earthquake in Sichuan, 152 people died

At least 152 people were killed and 3,000 injured in the quake nearly 7 on the Richter scale in Sichuan province, China on the morning of April 20, five years after a devastating earthquake struck the region itself.

The earthquake occurred at 8:00 am (7:00 am Hanoi time) in southwestern Sichuan province, about 100km from Chengdu capital. The earthquake at a depth of 12km, caused people to flee the house to flee. Many people still wear pajamas. Continuous aftershocks appear after the earthquake.

Chinese state-owned news agency Xinhua reported 152 confirmed deaths, more than 3,000 injured and about 10,000 homeless.

The scene was ruined because of the strong earthquake in Sichuan on April 20. (Photo: Sina Weibo)

According to the initial parameters, the magnitude of the earthquake was 7, but after that, the US Geological Survey (USGS) adjusted down to 6.6 degrees.

"The earthquake in Nha An city, Lo Son district, killed or injured hundreds of people," the Sichuan earthquake management agency announced on the government website.

According to the USGS, there is a high likelihood of major casualties and "major damage may occur and disaster may spread." "The previous earthquakes at this level used to require national and international response," the USGS said.

The quake of the earthquake was felt in Chongqing city, home to 30 million people, hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter. Xinhua posted photos of people running out of high-rise buildings after feeling shaken.

2,000 Chinese soldiers were sent to the area. A resident in Chengdu said he was on the 13th floor and felt shaking for about 20 seconds and saw falling bricks and tiles in nearby houses.

In the center of Chongqing, a witness said they saw the wobbly lights and water in the aquarium. Users of Sina Weibo social network said they felt earthquakes in the neighboring cities.

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang came to the earthquake scene to encourage people and monitor the rescue work which is being carried out urgently.

Lo Son kindergarten gate was broken down due to the earthquake. (Photo: Sina Weibo)

In 2008, Sichuan Province suffered one of the worst earthquakes in decades, killing 87,000 people and missing.That year's earthquake happened in the northwest of Chengdu city.Thousands of rescue workers and volunteers came to the scene for relief.The Chinese Prime Minister, Mr. Wen Jiabao, even went to visit.

The earthquake disaster then stretched to a part of the neighboring provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu. However, what angered the Chinese public after the earthquake was the discovery of many schools and structures that could not withstand earthquakes, causing suspicion of corruption and gutted work.

Earthquakes often attack the southwestern region of China. Yunnan province also suffered landslides in September last year, killing 80 people. A 5.5-magnitude earthquake occurred here in June that killed 4 people, more than 100 people were injured.